There's something truly magical about having a sauna as your travel destination—you know pure bliss awaits. And this day delivered exactly that ultimate pleasure. The previous evening, after an incredible session at Chomeiji Onsen Amaha-no-Yu, I'd settled into Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. I'd indulged in exquisite Omi beef at Sennari-tei Daidai on the historic Kurokabe Street, followed by another hotel sauna session that left me sleeping like a baby. Today's plan perfectly combined sightseeing with my ultimate destination: Ogoto Onsen, with carefully researched stops along the way. I arrived at Spa Resort Ogoto Agaryanse just before noon, already envisioning the perfect sequence: hot springs first, then maybe some yakiniku to fuel the experience. After checking in, I made my way to the main bathing area. The variety of baths was impressive, with the sauna room and cold plunge positioned prominently. Even without entering, the blissful expressions on other guests' faces told the whole story. Fighting back my mounting excitement, I decided to conduct my usual reconnaissance mission. It's my golden rule: when visiting any facility for the first time, I map out every bath and pathway. You simply can't achieve ultimate relaxation without knowing your terrain. The moment I completed my survey, I knew this would be extraordinary. The crown jewel? An outdoor bath offering sweeping panoramic views of Lake Biwa—a space where you could soak naked while gazing across Japan's largest lake.

First, warm up your body with carbonated springs and natural hot springs while gazing at Lake Biwa. Perhaps due to the quality of the Ogoto Onsen waters, I started feeling quite warm. I felt like I could jump into the cold plunge bath even without going into the sauna. After a light water shower, I headed to the sauna. It's quite spacious with a pleasant aroma filling the air. The temperature and humidity are perfect. After the sauna, I headed to the 14°C cold plunge bath. The cold plunge bath is deep and spacious. It chilled my sauna-heated body to the core. Then, it was time for an open-air bath and an outdoor air bath. Gazing at Lake Biwa, I closed my eyes and before I knew it, I had dozed off. The comfort was so overwhelming that I achieved a state of perfect relaxation six times. Three sets before lunch, then a nap, and three more sets in the evening. I need nothing more. My body feels incredibly good. The food tastes delicious. I can sleep soundly. With this, it's as if I've acquired everything necessary for a happy life.